Scedosporium apiosermum infection of the "Native" valve: Fungal endocarditis in an orthotopic heart transplant recipient

Med Mycol Case Rep. 2015 Jul 30:9:34-6. doi: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2015.07.005. eCollection 2015 Sep.

Abstract

Scedosporium apiospermum is an increasingly appreciated pathogen in immunosuppressed patients. We present a case of S. apiospermum endocarditis in a 70-year-old male who had undergone orthotopic heart transplant. Echocardiogram demonstrated a 1.4 cm tricuspid valve vegetation. He underwent valve replacement, complicated by fatal massive post-operative haemorrhage. Valve cultures grew S. apiospermum. To our knowledge, our case is the first reported instance of endocarditis caused by S. apiospermum in a recipient of a cardiac transplant.

Keywords: Fungal endocarditis; Orthotopic heart transplant; Pseudallescheria boydii; Scedosporiosis; Scedosporium apiospermum.